Insider Guide: New York City

Birchbox staffers share their favorite spots to eat, play, and primp

Birchboxers have a particular affinity for New York since we happily call the city home. And, if we do say so ourselves, our staffers are some of the most in-the-know, cool kids around town. We’ve tapped our in-office experts to give you the deets on where to eat, drink and get beautified.

GET YOUR GRUB ON

We’re spoiled by New York’s phenomenal food scene. Our offices are right next to ABC Kitchen, Jean Georges Vongerichtan’s stylish seasonal New American spot—I go once a week for Manhattans and peeky-toe crab toast. We’re also by my all-time favorite, Gramercy Tavern. The food is sophisticated but not fussy, and the service is flawless.
—Mollie, Editorial Director

MUST-VISIT BEAUTY BOUTIQUE

I love Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics’s adorable store partly because it’s near one of my favorite places in Manhattan’s Lower East Side (No Fun Bar). But I also love the store because it stocks all their gorgeous lip tars, which are super pigmented liquid lipsticks. The brand was created so consumers would have access to a professional line at reasonable prices.
—Rachel, Merchandising and Marketing Manager

MID-DAY SPA BREAKS

The Dermalogica Academy offers spa treatments by therapists-in-training for half the price of most other spots. Before your session, you'll be treated to a face-mapping, then you'll go over a plan of action with your therapist and her supervising educator. Even though facials are given in a room with several other chairs, once you sit down and close your eyes, it feels like you're alone with the soothing music. I also love the work-friendly evening hours and 20-minute microZone(r) sessions for in between breakouts. It’s too convenient to pass up.
—Lorelei, Associate Editor

Kiehl’s
The new Kiehl’s spa, 1851, pairs old world apothecary style with modern art décor and antique curiosities. It’s a super intimate experience because there are only three individually themed rooms (each with their own giant mural on the wall—my favorite is the rainforest room with a David LaChapelle painting of the Maui rainforest). I love that they use natural ingredients, like lavender, eucalyptus leaf, and ginger root in their treatments. If you have a gentleman in tow, there’s also a men’s service area with two barber chairs so they can have their own pampering session, too.
—Alta, Lead Brand Relationship Manager

WORKOUT YOU CAN’T MISS

I’m addicted to Soul Cycle. Lauren’s Tuesday and Thursday morning classes at the Union Square location are my absolute favorite—you sweat buckets and the music is a-m-a-z-i-n-g (sometimes it’s throwback, sometimes it’s electro-pop). I like to book a bike in the front row, but getting a spot at all can be tough. Signups for the week start at noon on Mondays and by 12:02, a lot of the classes are completely full! But I promise, it’s all worth it for such an awesome workout.
—Meredith, Editor & Content Strategy Manager

—By Candice Chan